| End the coronavirus lockdowns, skeptical experts tell Congress Posted: 06 May 2020 04:25 PM PDT  Billed as a roundtable of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Wednesday's hearing included some of the nation's most prominent dissenters on mainstream measures like business closures, stay-at-home orders and calls for widespread testing.
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| Coronavirus is coming for the red states too Posted: 06 May 2020 09:43 AM PDT  The New York metro area's seven-day average has been declining for weeks. For the national daily case count to stay the same, other areas must be making up the difference. In other words, the virus isn't receding. It's relocating.
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| Fox News Anchor: Tara Reade Allegations ‘Drive a Stake Into Heart’ of #MeToo Movement Posted: 06 May 2020 01:38 PM PDT  Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum asserted on Wednesday that the sexual-assault allegations made against presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden by former Senate staffer Tara Reade has essentially driven "a stake into the heart" of the MeToo movement.Reacting to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's insistence this week that the accusation by Reade that Biden assaulted her back in 1993 is a "closed issue" and she won't answer questions on it again, MacCallum took the speaker to task over her prior stance on Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and the allegations raised against him in 2018."I do find it very interesting to watch Nancy Pelosi say, 'I believe him, he said it didn't happen and I support him,'" the Fox anchor said during an appearance on Bill Hemmer Reports. "Now that kind of answer was completely unacceptable, as we all know, when it came to Brett Kavanaugh."Saying that this "raises a lot of important questions about the MeToo movement," which arose amid a number of high-profile cases of sexual misconduct by powerful men, MacCallum claimed that it "went very sadly off-track when we started getting into the territory of believing all women.""It should all be about due process," she continued. "I think it drives a stake into the heart of this movement in many ways because what are they going to do now?"MacCallum went on to say that the accusation against the former vice president "starts to neutralize" the multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against President Donald Trump, adding, "Especially since you have a lot of people who say, 'I believe Tara Reade but I support Joe Biden anyway.'"MacCallum also referenced a recent poll that shows that while voters are split on whether or not they believe Biden or Reade, Democrats are still overwhelmingly willing to support Biden this election. Fox News has devoted wall-to-wall coverage of the allegations over the past couple of weeks even while it all but ignored some of Trump's accusers, largely devoting its airtime to calling out Democrats for hypocrisy and the mainstream media for supposedly ignoring the story. Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| Satellite images reveal North Korea is building a giant facility which could hold nuclear missiles capable of hitting the United States Posted: 07 May 2020 05:10 AM PDT  Satellite images suggest North Korea has almost built a facility large enough to store all of its nuclear missiles.
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| Dallas salon owner jailed for defying virus shutdown order Posted: 06 May 2020 04:38 AM PDT  Texas' Republican governor and top law enforcement officer on Wednesday came to the defense of a Dallas hair salon owner who was jailed for keeping her business open in defiance of the governor's restrictions meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Shelley Luther was booked in the Dallas County jail on Tuesday following a video hearing during which she refused to apologize for repeatedly flouting the order, leading the judge to find her in contempt of court and sentence her to a week behind bars. Luther was cited last month for keeping her salon open despite state and local directives that kept nonessential businesses closed, but she continued to defy the order and tore up a cease and desist letter in front of TV cameras.
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| Broadcaster shutdown crosses dangerous line for Philippines Posted: 05 May 2020 11:31 PM PDT  The shutting down of the Philippines' top broadcaster crosses a dangerous line in eroding the nation's democracy and sends a warning to those who risk angering President Rodrigo Duterte, watchdogs said. Since rising to power in 2016, Duterte has steadily tightened his grip on the nation's key institutions and jailed or sidelined his loudest detractors, but until now his worst threats against critical media had not been fully realised. Tuesday's halting of broadcasting giant ABS-CBN's operations marks the first time a major, independent outlet was shut down since Duterte took office in a step that echoes the country's grim authoritarian past.
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| Russia overtakes Germany, France after record rise in coronavirus cases Posted: 07 May 2020 12:58 AM PDT  Russia's coronavirus cases overtook France and Germany on Thursday to become the fifth highest number in the world after a record daily rise, and Moscow's mayor said the real figure, not captured by official statistics, was much higher. The official tally surged to 177,160, meaning Russia now has more registered cases than Germany or France, as the number of new cases of the novel coronavirus jumped by 11,231 in the past 24 hours.
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| In a hurry to reopen state, Arizona governor disbands scientific panel that modeled outbreak Posted: 06 May 2020 11:07 AM PDT  Arizona's Republican Gov. Doug Ducey's administration disbanded a panel of university scientists who had warned that reopening the state now would be dangerous.
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| Recruits with COVID-19 history will be rejected by military, says memo Posted: 07 May 2020 09:14 AM PDT  However, recruits who have recovered from the disease may still be able to get a waiver that lets them sign up, according a defense official.
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| Tennessee Authorities Have Identified a ‘Person of Interest’ in Case of Baby Evelyn Boswell Posted: 06 May 2020 11:19 AM PDT  Three months after 15-month-old Evelyn Boswell was first reported missing, Tennessee investigators say they've identified a "person of interest" in her widely-watched case.The Sullivan County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday they have identified a person of interest in Evelyn's case but refused to name the suspected individual due to the ongoing investigation. To date, no one has been charged with Evelyn's death. The infant was reported missing on Feb. 18 but "was last seen by certain family members near the end of November 2019 and the first of December 2019," authorities said.After an extensive, multi-agency search, the toddler's remains were found in March on a property belonging to a "family member of Evelyn's mother," according to Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy. An autopsy report is still pending. Detectives Find Remains of Missing Tennessee Baby Evelyn Boswell"We will never ever forget Evelyn Boswell," Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Captain Joey Strickler told News Channel 11 on Wednesday, stating that several officers are still working diligently on the case. Amid the investigation, Boswell's mother, 18-year-old Megan Boswell, was charged on Feb. 25 with making false reports for allegedly giving authorities "conflicting, inaccurate statements" that "impeded" the investigation. "Every time we've talked to her, her story changed. Every single time," Cassidy said after the arrest, calling Boswell's actions "frustrating."Authorities say Evelyn was first reported missing by her grandfather on Feb. 18 after he hadn't seen the baby in several months. According to court documents obtained by WCYB, Boswell initially told authorities that Evelyn's father, Ethan Perry, had the baby and she was supposed to meet him at a store in Colonial Heights. But Perry, an active-duty military officer stationed in Louisiana, did not have the child.Boswell then allegedly claimed the girl's grandmother had taken Evelyn camping "in a silver camper," and promised, "I'm going to go find her myself." The 18-year-old also told authorities that she was newly pregnant and could not take a polygraph test—which investigators later determined was false. Minnesota Man Killed Wife, Buried Her Under Home Then Faked Her Disappearance: Court DocsMegan Boswell's mother, Angela Boswell, and her boyfriend, 33-year-old William McCloud, were separately arrested in February in North Carolina after investigators found them riding in a stolen gray BMW. They have since been released on bond. Despite the challenges the coronavirus pandemic has presented amid the investigation, Strickler said the sheriff's office is glad to be working through the evidence slowly to ensure they do not make a mistake. Boswell, who has not spoken to authorities about her daughter's case since her arrest, is currently in the Sullivan County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on Friday morning.Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| ‘It’s Wrong’: Biden Vows to Overturn DeVos’s Due Process Protections for Students Accused of Sexual Assault Posted: 07 May 2020 06:25 AM PDT  Former vice president Joe Biden promised on Wednesday that as president he would reverse new due process protections that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos put in place to protect university students accused of sexual assault, saying they "shame and silence survivors, and take away parents' peace of mind."Biden, who has recently been accused of sexual assault in 1993 by a woman who worked for him, said the new rules give colleges and universities a "green light to ignore sexual violence and strip survivors of their rights."The Title IX rule, issued on Wednesday, is intended to enhance due process for accused individuals on college campuses as well as in elementary and high schools. One part of the reforms ensures the right of the accused to "submit, cross-examine and challenge evidence at a live hearing." The rule protects alleged victims from having to physically face the person they say assaulted them or answer questions written personally by the accused, but it does allow the accused to ask questions through a surrogate as well as question other witnesses."Survivors deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and when they step forward they should be heard, not silenced." Biden's campaign said in a statement."It's wrong," Biden continued. "And, it will be put to a quick end in January 2021, because as president, I'll be right where I always have been throughout my career — on the side of survivors, who deserve to have their voices heard, their claims taken seriously and investigated, and their rights upheld."Tara Reade claims that Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993 when she worked for him as a Senate staffer. She alleges that she was told by a top staffer to bring Biden a duffel bag in a Senate building, and when she met with him he pinned her against a wall and penetrated her with his fingers while forcibly kissing her.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has also condemned the Education Department due process rules, said last month that she is "satisfied" with how Biden has responded to the allegation.
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| Coronavirus: Nigeria's death penalty by Zoom 'inhumane' Posted: 06 May 2020 02:17 PM PDT  A man is sentenced to hang for murder after a virtual court session amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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| New evidence suggests the coronavirus was likely spreading in the US and France as early as December Posted: 07 May 2020 08:45 AM PDT  The coronavirus seems to have been spreading through Florida by January. A December patient who coughed up blood in France later tested positive.
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| Texas lieutenant governor pays fine for jailed salon owner Posted: 07 May 2020 10:25 AM PDT  "I'm covering the $7K fine she had to pay and I volunteer to be placed under House Arrest so she can go to work and feed her kids," Dan Patrick tweeted.
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| Unanimous Supreme Court throws out 'Bridgegate' convictions Posted: 07 May 2020 07:12 AM PDT  A unanimous Supreme Court on Thursday threw out the convictions of two political insiders involved in the "Bridgegate" scandal that ultimately derailed the 2016 president bid of their ally, then-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. The justices said there was evidence of deception, corruption, and abuse of power in the political payback saga that involved four days of traffic jams on the world's busiest motor-vehicle bridge, the George Washington Bridge spanning the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey. In the end, the justices concluded that the government had overreached in prosecuting Bridget Kelly and Bill Baroni for their roles in the scheme.
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| 'There's absolutely nothing': locked-down Mexico grapples with national beer shortage Posted: 07 May 2020 02:00 AM PDT  Deemed 'non-essential', brewing was halted more than a month ago, leading to a thriving black marketMexicans sheltering in place during the Covid-19 crisis have endured crowded quarters and rising temperatures. Now they're enduring another challenge: a nationwide beer drought.Beer production in Mexico was halted more than a month ago as health officials declared brewing a "non-essential" activity.Since then, the country's stockpile has dwindled, fueling a robust black market in which speculators are demanding more than twice the pre-pandemic price."We're not producing a single beer," Karla Siquieiros, president of Cerverceros de México, told the newspaper el Universal.But some beer-makers have continued their operations. The country is the largest beer exporter in the world, and Constellation Brands – which produces Modelo, Corona and Pacifico in Mexico for US markets – is still brewing for export.Oxxo, Mexico's ubiquitous corner store chain, warned in late April that its beer supply would last just 10 days, prompting panic buying and long lines outside stores.Mexicans have greeted the domestic beer shortage with more bemusement than anger. Hashtags like LaÚltimaChela (the last beer) trended on Twitter, while users posted pictures of empty fridges.But retailers say the loss of sales is seriously harming their livelihoods in an economy that is already tough."Mexicans like to drink beer," said Cuauhtémoc Rivera, director the National Alliance of Small Merchants, Anpec, which represents thousands of mom-and-pop stores.Most such businesses are run by families, and during hot weather, beer sales make up about 40% of sales, Rivera said."This is a big money-maker for small stores," said Rivera.Anpec had lobbied for brewing to be declared an essential activity, arguing that it would help people cope with coronavirus lockdowns."States of anxiety, desperation and fears that could end in episodes of irascibility and intolerance" were inevitable during quarantine, the organisation argued, adding: "The consumption of beer at home operates as relaxant, which helps with enduring a difficult trial."Many municipalities have banned the sale of alcohol for the duration of Covid-19 quarantines. Some analysts say that such measures can help reduce domestic violence – at a time when domestic abuse under lockdown is on rise around the world.But others said such laws conform to a familiar pattern in which Mexican authorities feel the need to take action – any action – in times of crisis."Lots of authority figures love it," said Xavier Tello, a healthcare consultant. "The authorities can show that they're acting like authorities by imposing dry laws … as if it solved anything."As temperatures climb, some beer drinkers continue to hunt for Mexico's last few beers. But it can be a frustrating pursuit.Last weekend, Johnny, an engineer in the border city of Reynosa, visited eight stores in three neighbourhoods but came away empty-handed."There is absolutely nothing," he said of the stores in Reynosa. "There's liquor, but not everybody wants that. And it's dwindling too."He did find beer for sale on the black market, but the asking price was triple the normal.In the end, Johnny crossed the border to buy a six-pack of Corona in Texas.
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| Another study shows hydroxychloroquine doesn't help coronavirus patients Posted: 07 May 2020 01:28 PM PDT  A new study has found that hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug recommended by President Trump as a possible treatment for coronavirus, does not help patients hospitalized with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
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| Asian American woman harassed by self-identified Trump supporter thanks bystanders Posted: 06 May 2020 02:08 PM PDT  "Americans said we don't want you here," the harasser said in a video. "That's why we elected President Trump."
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| Wildfires spread across the Florida Panhandle Posted: 07 May 2020 04:32 AM PDT  Hundreds have been evacuated as wildfires continue to rage across the Florida Panhandle, authorities said.
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| Liberals Rewrite History to Justify Their #MeToo Hypocrisy Posted: 05 May 2020 05:08 PM PDT  You can believe whomever you choose in the alleged sexual-misconduct cases of Joe Biden and Brett Kavanaugh, but you can't revise history to erase your partisan double standards.One of the most egregious examples of revisionism can be found in a column by the New York Times' Michelle Goldberg, who employs nearly every attack Americans were warned never to use against alleged sexual-assault victims during the Kavanaugh hearings — questioning their motivations, asking why they didn't file charges, attacking them for not remembering specifics, etc. And yet, even if we adopt Goldberg's new standards, Tara Reade still emerges as a more credible accuser than Christine Blasey Ford.For starters, Ford was unable to offer a time or place or a single contemporaneous corroborating witness. Ford offered no evidence that she even knew Kavanaugh. Reade worked for Joe Biden. Reade has offered a specific time and place for the attack.Goldberg contends that Ford's case against Kavanaugh was bolstered by "four sworn affidavits" from witnesses whom she'd told that she'd been assaulted.This is an especially misleading comparison since the charges against Kavanaugh, unlike the ones against Biden, were investigated by the FBI. The question is how many "affidavits" would there be in support of Reade's allegations if there were an official inquiry into her claims — and one conducted by the authorities, not an "unbiased, apolitical panel, put together by the D.N.C.," as Goldberg's newspaper desires?There are already reportedly at least four people on the record who maintain Reade told them about the Biden incident, including her mother, who reportedly called in to "Larry King Live" in 1993, right after the alleged sexual assault took place, looking for advice; her neighbor, who claims that Reade told her about the assault a few years after it happened; and a friend, who says that Reade told her about the assault in 2007 or 2008.Every witness that Ford claimed had been at the suburban Maryland party where Kavanaugh allegedly attacked her had no recollection of the assault or even the gathering where it supposedly happened. This group included Ford's longtime friend Leland Keyser.If Goldberg's standard of credibility is measured by the number of "sworn affidavits" in existence, then she should be calling for an investigation into Reade's story so that the two allegations can be subjected to the same level of scrutiny.Another reason Ford is a more credible accuser than Reade, argues Goldberg, is that the latter's story has changed. Goldberg even insinuates that Reade's neighbor might be lying because she has trouble recalling if Reade relayed the story to her in 1995 or 1996.That's another new and convenient standard. It should be mentioned that during the Kavanaugh hearings we were told that it's normal for victims not to recall every detail about these unconscionable attacks — which makes a lot of sense.Unlike Ford's story, which had evolved — changing places, years, seasons, and the number of attackers — Reade's story has hardly budged, other than in regards to some hazy recollections about when or how she filed a report about Biden. Then again, if having a consistent story is the new measurement of credibility, Reade is at least as reliable as Ford.Another reason to doubt Reade's allegations, contends New York magazine's Jonathan Chait, is that she coordinated "her statements with Bernie Sanders supporters to maximize their political impact." Others, such as NeverTrumper Charlie Sykes, have insinuated even uglier conspiracies to discredit Reade, pointing out that she once deleted a pro-Putin tweet. Apparently Reade has been working the long con for the Russians since 1993. (Ford, incidentally, deleted her entire social-media history before making her accusations public.)Unlike Reade, Ford didn't mention the alleged assault to anyone for around 25 years, until Kavanaugh's name began appearing in the media as a prospective Supreme Court justice in 2012, and even then, it seems she only specifically cited the judge's name after Donald Trump nominated him. If you want to maximize political impact, coming forward during a contentious Supreme Court nomination hearing after three decades of silence probably qualifies.Both Goldberg and Chait also note that Ford's therapist's notes corroborate her claims. The notes do not exactly bolster her credibility, though. For one thing, Ford refused to turn over those notes to Senate Judiciary Committee investigators, instead handing snippets to a favorable reporter at the Washington Post. As far as we know, those notes conflict with her testimony regarding the number of attackers and the year. Moreover, why do therapist's notes from 2012 speak to the credibility of an alleged victim more than a 1993 call from a mother?It's not a mystery why liberals want Ford to seem more credible. At first the media completely ignored Reade's allegations. But once reporters began responsibly reporting the story — a professionalism that wasn't afforded to Kavanaugh — the same liberals who had demanded we "believe all women" began flailing to rewrite history.In USA Today, Kirsten Powers argued that "there is no 'double standard' in the way Kavanaugh was treated vs. Biden," because Democrats had merely called for the accusations to be investigated. That, too, is revisionism. Almost every Democratic senator had called for Trump to withdraw the nomination over the assault charges — many of those calls, in fact, were based on even flimsier accusations, recklessly spread by the press and politicians.It's possible that Reade's credibility would suffer, as did Ford's, if an investigation took a deeper look. Yet, none of the Democrats who dispensed with due process and embraced Ford's accusations have shown the slightest interest in speaking with Reade. They've simply adopted new guidelines for "believing women" and left liberal pundits with the job of justifying their actions — which they dutifully do.Of course, none of the above is dispositive or unequivocal evidence of sexual assault on its own. We can never really know. But the notion that Ford is a more credible accuser than Reade doesn't stand up to even the most basic examination. It's just a flimsy excuse for hypocrisy.
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| Coronavirus spreads among Indian police enforcing world's largest lockdown Posted: 06 May 2020 06:13 AM PDT  Hundreds of Indian police have tested positive for the coronavirus in recent days, raising alarm among an over-stretched force as it attempts to enforce the world's largest lockdown to contain the pandemic. TV footage early in the crisis showed police beating back migrant workers as they tried to board city buses to reach their villages, making a mockery of social distancing. India has been under lockdown since March 25 and confirmed nearly 50,000 coronavirus cases and some 1,694 deaths.
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| 77 cell phone towers have been set on fire so far due to a weird coronavirus 5G conspiracy theory Posted: 06 May 2020 07:26 AM PDT  Engineers have also had cars driven at them, and one was stabbed and hospitalised per the CEO of BT.
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| Over 500 Employees at Trump’s Las Vegas Hotel Have Been Laid Off Amid Coronavirus Posted: 07 May 2020 12:09 PM PDT  Over 500 workers at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas have temporarily lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic.The resort, which is part-owned by the Trump Organization, broke the news to employees last month in a letter to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation."Based on the fluid and rapidly evolving nature of this situation, however, at this time we are unable to provide a specific date at which we will be able to recommence regular hotel operations and return affected employees to work," Human Resources Director LaDawndre Stinson wrote in the letter posted to the agency's website.The April 3 letter added that because of the "sudden, dramatic, and unexpected nature of this unforeseen emergency" and the demands of Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak's decision to shut down non-essential businesses amid the pandemic, the hotel would be "unable to provide employees with additional notice of these temporary layoffs." Cuomo Blasts Trump: Your Bailout Strategy Will Doom Us AllAs first reported by The Washington Post, the president's properties in New York, D.C., Miami, Chicago, Las Vegas, Vancouver, and Honolulu have all laid-off workers amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has gutted the hospitality industry. To date, 1,500 employees at hotels owned by the Trump Organization have been laid off or furloughed."You can't have many hundreds of employees standing around doing nothing," Trump said at the White House on April 21, addressing job cuts. "There's no customer. You're not allowed to have a customer."During the same press conference—which took place two weeks after the Las Vegas employees learned they were out of a job—Trump expressed his support for Sisolak's decision to lock down Sin City, despite its cold reception from other elected officials and the Las Vegas mayor, who called it "total insanity.""They closed a big hotel down in Nevada that I have in Las Vegas. It's a very severe step he took. I'm OK with it," Trump said. "But you could call that one either way."Bethany Khan, the communications director for the Culinary Union in Las Vegas—which represents nearly all of the Trump employees who were laid off—told The Daily Beast on Thursday that 98 percent of their members are currently furloughed or laid off. The Culinary Union is Nevada's most powerful labor organization, representing about 60,000 hotel-casino workers.In addition to Las Vegas, more than 200 employees were laid off at the president's hotel in Vancouver, and over 75 percent of his Chicago hotel was placed on leave. "In an effort to conserve energy, most common areas...are illuminated and heated at a minimum level," the Chicago hotel told its investors in a letter, stating that the "heartbreaking decision" to lay off two-thirds of its staff also included suspending 401(k) contributions. Trump Shakes Everyone's Hands at Coronavirus Press Conference—Ignoring CDC GuidelinesAccording to the Post, the combined closed properties used to generate about $650,000 every day for the Trump Organization. The family business, which is now managed by the president's two sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, racked up a property-tax bill in April of more than $1.8 million.The group reportedly reached out to the Deutsche Bank in March to ask about delaying payments on at least some of its hundreds of millions of dollars in loans and other financial obligations.According to The New York Times, a Florida-based company executive also emailed and called Palm Beach County officials to talk about whether they had planned to keep asking for payments on land the Trump Organization rents from the county for a 27-hole golf club."These days everybody is working together," Eric Trump told the Times. "Tenants are working with landlords, landlords are working with banks. The whole world is working together as we fight through this pandemic."Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., which sits just blocks away from the White House, is also looking for a government break on its rent payments. On April 21, the Times also reported the hotel has asked to delay its monthly rent payments of about $268,000 a month in an effort to curtail their ongoing money troubles. The hotel is housed in the Old Post Office Building, a federally-owned property.The Trump Organization did not immediately respond to The Daily Beast's request for comment.Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| Wagner, shadowy Russian military group, 'fighting in Libya' Posted: 07 May 2020 06:46 AM PDT  The private military group has up to 1,200 members supporting a renegade general, a leaked UN report says.
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| Rogue tourists arrested as Hawaii tries to curb virus spread Posted: 07 May 2020 07:01 AM PDT  Hawaii authorities are cracking down on rogue tourists who are visiting beaches, riding personal watercraft, shopping and generally flouting strict requirements that they quarantine for 14 days after arriving. A newlywed California couple left their Waikiki hotel room repeatedly, despite being warned by hotel staff, and were arrested. Others have been arrested at a hotel pool, loading groceries into a vehicle outside a Costco and bringing take-out food back to a hotel room.
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| White House won't let Fauci testify in House on coronavirus, but denies he's 'blocked' Posted: 06 May 2020 03:22 PM PDT  White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany denied on Wednesday that the Trump administration had blocked Dr. Anthony Fauci from testifying before a House committee.
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| Navy secretary nominee slams service’s ‘failure of leadership’ Posted: 07 May 2020 08:11 AM PDT  Senators may have pointed questions for Braithwaite about how he'll cope with the spread of coronavirus in the fleet.
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| A 'shocking' two-thirds of patients recently hospitalized in NY had been staying home Posted: 06 May 2020 03:47 PM PDT  "They're not working; they're not traveling," Cuomo said. "... They were predominantly at home."
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| Thirsty beer lovers find supplies have run dry in Mexico Posted: 06 May 2020 11:47 PM PDT  Mexicans have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic in many ways, including beer lovers finding it particularly difficult to quench their thirst as supplies run dry due to reduced production. Fernando Rodriguez wanted to have a beer while taking part in a virtual party, one of the only ways to celebrate under containment measures. After searching several stores in his Mexico City neighborhood, he eventually had to pay almost double.
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| 'Killed in cold blood': Biden, Abrams call for action in shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery Posted: 06 May 2020 11:13 AM PDT  In a tweet, Biden called Arbery's death a killing "in cold blood" and asked for a "swift, full, and transparent investigation into his murder."
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| The final results are in: Finland's basic-income trial found people were happier, but weren't more likely to get jobs Posted: 06 May 2020 10:16 AM PDT  Basic income has gained renewed interest during the pandemic with millions people out of work and national economies thrown into tailspins.
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| Africa disease centre rejects Tanzania's allegation that its coronavirus tests faulty Posted: 07 May 2020 02:51 AM PDT  The head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday rejected an assertion by Tanzania's president that coronavirus tests it supplied are faulty. Tanzania's government spokesman said a team was conducting investigations on the laboratory that conducted the tests, and the outcome will be made public once complete. The World Health Organization expressed confidence in the tests.
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| Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s Successor Accused of Using Social Distancing ‘Snitch Line’ Posted: 06 May 2020 01:27 AM PDT  President Trump might have been welcomed to Arizona on Tuesday by the fellow truther once known as his political soul mate.But Joe Arpaio had trouble explaining misspent millions and hundreds of uninvestigated sex crime cases, and numerous civil rights violations during his long tenure as Maricopa County sheirff.Arpaio was voted out the same day Trump was voted in. The new Maricopa sheriff is Paul Penzone, who seeks to live up to his sworn duty to enforce the laws of Arizona as well as defend the U.S. Constitution. That includes a situation where, in Penzone's words "the governor, acting under his authority in a constitutional manner, executes an executive order.""You can't pick and choose which laws to enforce when you're in law enforcement," Penzone told The Daily Beast.He is not one of the Arizona sheriffs who declared they would not enforce Gov. Doug Ducey's "stay home, stay safe" emergency COVID-19 restrictions. Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb and Mohave County Sheriff Douglas Schuster are among at least a half-dozen sheriffs in other states who have made similar declarations, deeming stay-at-home and business shutdown orders unconstitutional. The so-called constitutionalist stance is embraced by Gerard "Jerry" Sheridan, Arpaio's former chief deputy. Sheridan is seeking to unseat Penzone in November. "The Sheriff of a county is elected by and reports only to the citizens in the county," Sheridan tweeted. "No governor or mayor can tell him how to do his job. Sheriff Penzone of MCSO drop your snitch line to catch law abiding citizens doing Constitutional things."What Sheridan calls a "snitch line" is an online system that Penzone set up that allows people to report violations of the pandemic restrictions. Snitch is a pejorative used by criminals to describe people who cooperate with law enforcement. One longtime street rhyme is "snitches get stitches." And here is someone using the word in an effort to get elected a county's top lawman. Initially, reports of violations of the governor's stay-at-home, business shutdown order were handled via 911. Deputies were dispatched to the scene with instructions to begin by educating violators about the danger they were creating. Deputies were to summon a supervisor before taking any further actions. And citations were to be issued only where there was what Penzone terms "aggressive and repeated behavior" that left the deputies with no other choice."You have to find that balance, not to criminalize but also to promote health and safety, to save lives," Penzone said.The situation became more nuanced when the governor began to relax some business restrictions. Penzone had already become worried that the use of 911 tied up police resources when crime had remained essentially constant. Under the present system, citizens who call 911 with a COVID-19 restriction complaint are directed to file a report online. Some people just went directly to the sheriff's website."If you wish to contact MCSO with questions or concerns regarding the emergency order..." reads a line at the top.A click on "Contact Us" brings the person to a "Tips" page. A civilian investigator will then respond to confirm there is a violation before any further action is taken. Penzone reports that only a minority of the people visiting the page report violations. "The majority of that traffic has been the people who are complaining about the site," Penzone said.He added, "We've allowed politics to become divisive, even more so during a pandemic."He also said, "If we want to see the economy come back and also be safe, we can't let politics decide how we behave." Penzone has emailed the county attorney to confirm that the governor's order is indeed constitutional. The county attorney has not yet responded.The issue is likely to come up in court May 30, when Mertia Kraya, proprietor of Euro Pizza Cafe in Fountain Hills, contests a citation she received on April 5. Deputies visited her establishment on several occasions regarding patrons eating at outdoor tables and drinking beers from a bucket of ice marked "To Go." She insisted that nobody was "dining in" as prohibited by the restrictions."[Kraya] told me that my interpretation and her interpretation were different and that if I had to cite her for this, a judge would have to decide whose interpretation was right," a sheriff's captain wrote in a report. Kraya was issued summons 0700033420009801 charging her with violation of Section 26-317 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. "A violation of an order, rule, or regulation issued pursuant to a State of Emergency is a Class 1 misdemeanor," the law reads.That was the lone such summons issued by the sheriff, so Kraya had no trouble figuring out who Penzone was talking about when he accused an unnamed restaurant owner who violated the order of being "selfish." She faces a maximum $2,500 fine. She told The Daily Beast she intends to fight it. "I'll see my day in court," she said. "We'll see what happens."She noted that she has a medical condition that leaves her immunocompromised, with particular reason to fear COVID-19. She added that she would never want to endanger her customers or her employees or her family at home, who include an EMT in the Air Force Reserve. She reported that her cause has been taken up by those who oppose the restrictions."They took my case and ran with it," she said. "The Rosa Parks that stand up to the police."The anti-shutdown folks who are seeking to capitalize on the case will have reason to wish that the evidence did not include body camera footage that shows the deputies being only reasonable. Meanwhile, Sheridan is denouncing Penzone's "snitch line." He may be hoping to make voters forget his former boss' many transgressions."It is typical of his liberal mentality to have people snitch each other out for going to get something to eat or go for a walk in the park," Sheirdan told The Daily Beast.Sheridan said that "when I get elected," he will tutor his deputies on "what the Founding Fathers meant when giving the people freedom and liberty."Sheridan said he would oppose a shutdown even in his native Queens, New York, where his father was an NYPD lieutenant and where thousands have died in the pandemic. Sheridan said it is up to people to take their own precautions.NYC Is Taking Hundreds of Body Bags Out of Houses—and Soon They Will Be Counted"There is a degree of personal responsibility that people have," he said.Lest anyone think Penzone is anti-business, the establishments that will soon reopen include a beauty parlor owned and operated by Penzone's wife. He has been helping her install safety additions. He reports that her customers are clamoring to come back."There are a lot of roots out there," he said.As his wife goes back to work, the man who unseated Trump's political soulmate will be out enforcing the law in accordance with this oath. Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| California to get $247M refund as masks face delivery delay Posted: 06 May 2020 04:20 PM PDT  California will be refunded $247 million it paid to a Chinese company under a major deal for protective masks after the company failed to meet a deadline for federal certification of the masks, Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration said Wednesday. Newsom announced the contract last month to fanfare, saying California had inked a nearly $1 billion deal for 200 million protective masks per month amid the coronavirus pandemic. Most were set to be tight-fitting N-95 respirator masks, while the rest would be looser-fitting surgical masks.
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| Supreme Court declines to lift Pennsylvania's stay-at-home order Posted: 07 May 2020 11:57 AM PDT  Governor Tom Wolf ordered all nonessential businesses in the state to temporarily close in March.
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| Pompeo says US to use 'every tool' to free Americans in Venezuela Posted: 06 May 2020 09:08 AM PDT  The United States will use all options to free two Americans said to be detained in a failed mercenary attack in Venezuela, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday. "If the Maduro regime decides to hold them, we will use every tool that we have available to try to get them back," Pompeo told reporters. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom the United States has been seeking to topple for more than a year, on Monday displayed the passports of two Americans he said were arrested in a plot to bring him down.
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| EU’s pivot to China falls foul of Beijing’s censors Posted: 06 May 2020 08:16 PM PDT  Europe learns the risks of courting China as a letter by its envoys is censored in an official newspaper.
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| New Yahoo News/YouGov coronavirus poll: Most Americans deny Trump’s response is a ‘success story’ Posted: 06 May 2020 04:26 PM PDT  Nearly half of Americans believe the United States would be faring better in the current coronavirus pandemic if Barack Obama were president instead of President Trump, according to a new Yahoo News/YouGov poll.
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| For Biden, naming Cabinet before election would be a big risk Posted: 07 May 2020 05:24 AM PDT  In addition to the rumblings about whom he'll name as his vice presidential candidate, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden recently surprised many political observers by suggesting that he might also announce the selection of some Cabinet members before November's election. This would be an unusual move that poses some risks – as well as rewards.Typically, presidential candidates wait until after winning the election to name their Cabinet members – the heads of the government departments like State, Treasury and Commerce – and other key White House staff. Though sometimes they offer hints, campaigns worry an early announcement might make it seem the candidate is assuming a win, taking the voters' support for granted. In addition, some legal experts have wondered whether announcing Cabinet picks might violate campaign finance laws because a presidential candidate could be viewed as offering someone a prominent position within the White House in exchange for their political support – effectively, a bribe.Biden has assured voters that he will have an experienced White House team – one that's ready to help him lead on day one and to steer the ship of state if Biden, age 77, were to experience health problems or retire after one term in office.Given these factors, would announcing his Cabinet early help Biden to win the election? Bluntly put, no one knows for sure, especially in the extraordinary circumstances of an election-year pandemic. There's just no modern precedent. But from our research, we have a good idea of what to expect. That's because in our forthcoming book "Do Running Mates Matter?" we look at the effects of the one team member that every presidential candidate names before the election: the vice presidential candidate. There's little direct effect on votersFor our book, we analyzed a half-century of political science survey data to examine what effect a running mate has on the success of presidential candidates.In short, we found that running mates have very little direct effect on voters. When people go to the polls, they are primarily expressing a preference for the presidential candidate, not the second person on the ticket. On rare occasions, voters can be swayed by running mates who are much more – or less – popular than their party's main candidate. For instance, John Kerry's vice presidential candidate in 2004, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, was relatively popular with voters early in the campaign. And, as our research shows, Edwards' popularity made voters more likely to vote for Kerry, at least in the short term.Some political analysts believe a vice presidential selection could draw key voters from their own demographic group or their home state. We found that rarely happens, either. In general, a candidate's choice for second-in-command does very little to directly swing voters, so we think it's unlikely that lower-ranking picks, like for Cabinet posts, would make much difference at all. Shedding light on the candidateHowever, we found that voters view vice presidential choices as new information about the main candidate – and that information can shift voters' views and change votes. The candidate's choice gives voters insight into who the candidate really is, what he or she stands for, and how the person might operate once in office.Take the 2008 presidential election, for example, when Democrat Barack Obama ran against Republican John McCain with Joe Biden and Sarah Palin as their respective vice presidential nominees.In our book, we explain that voters who doubted Palin's qualifications also were more likely to doubt McCain's judgment and think he was too old to be president. As a result, they were less likely to vote for McCain.However, our analysis also showed that voters who believed Biden was well-qualified for office were more likely to approve of Obama's judgment – and less likely to think he was too young to be president. As a result, they were more likely to vote for Obama.Naming Cabinet members prior to the election might have a similar indirect effect. Depending on Biden's choices, an early Cabinet announcement could indicate that the presumptive Democratic nominee would be ready with an experienced team to govern right from the start – or that he will give a job to anyone who can help him win the election, even if that person is not the right fit. Those signals might gain – or lose – him some votes. A risky propositionNaming Cabinet members comes with other risks, too. It would give the incumbent, President Donald Trump, more targets to attack. And journalists would scrutinize Biden's picks, as they do vice presidential selections. If a prospective Cabinet nominee were linked to a scandal or a campaign trail embarrassment, that could hurt Biden's campaign by bringing negative attention or distracting the media and voters from his primary message. At worst, a nominee's struggles could call into question Biden's judgment and ability to govern, potentially costing him votes. Even if Biden wins, those campaign trail problems could make it less likely the Senate would later confirm the nominee to serve in the Cabinet.In the short term, Biden's surprise announcement that he might name Cabinet selections before November's election has won him some welcome media coverage amid the coronavirus pandemic. But the risks of going through with this unprecedented move may outweigh the potential rewards: Cabinet picks are unlikely to help him win, and there is a reasonable chance that at least one would backfire.[Like what you've read? Want more? Sign up for The Conversation's daily newsletter.]
Este artículo se vuelve a publicar de The Conversation, un medio digital sin fines de lucro dedicado a la diseminación de la experticia académica. Lee mas:
Kyle C. Kopko is affiliated with the Elizabethtown Borough Planning Commission, Lancaster County Hospital Authority, and the Elizabethtown Area Republican Committee.Christopher Devine does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
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| Are travelers starting to fly again? Spirit, JetBlue say yes, with an asterisk Posted: 07 May 2020 11:32 AM PDT  JetBlue and Spirit airlines says the first travelers to return as stay-at-home restrictions are eased will be those visiting family and friends again.
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| United workers are suing the airline for cutting their schedules to save cash, which unions say violates federal bailout terms Posted: 06 May 2020 10:27 AM PDT  United is being sued by a union representing 27,000 of its workers after the airline reduced work weeks from 40 hours to 30 due to the pandemic.
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| ‘Please Come Get Me’: Fatal Indianapolis Police Shooting May Have Aired on Facebook Posted: 07 May 2020 08:55 AM PDT  An Indianapolis man was fatally shot by police after a high-speed chase in an incident that appeared to have been broadcast on Facebook Live, sparking outcry and protests throughout the night.More than 100 people from the community gathered at the scene of the shooting to express their outrage Wednesday night, chanting "No justice, no peace!" as they demanded answers from police about the latest officer-involved death. Protestors continued demonstrating Thursday, with dozens marching through the streets before congregating outside of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department headquarters. "We deserve better," one community activist told The Indianapolis Star. "I am disgusted, horrified, tired, and angry."'You're Gonna Kill Me': Body-Cam Footage Shows Cops Mocking Dallas Man as He DiesThe Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said the incident began around 6 p.m. when officers began pursuing a man who they observed to be driving recklessly. After the driver exited the car, an officer chased him on foot before gunfire was "exchanged" at around 6:14 p.m., police said in a press release, without revealing who fired first. In the unconfirmed Facebook video of the incident, at least 13 or 14 gunshots can be heard. In another video obtained by The Indianapolis Star, a detective who arrived after the shooting can be heard saying: "Looks like it's going to be a closed casket, homie." "We are aware of inappropriate comments made by an IMPD detective" on the live stream, Indianapolis MPD Chief Randal Taylor said at a Thursday press conference. "Let me be clear: These comments are unacceptable and unbecoming of our police department." While Taylor did not confirm the authenticity of the Facebook live stream, he did stress he was "concerned with the things on social media," stating he thinks that some comments online "lack trust as to what occurred." Authorities have not yet identified the name of the driver but said he and the officer who shot him were both black men. Family members identified the driver to local media outlets as 21-year-old Dreasjon "Sean" Reed. The officer who fired the fatal shot has been placed on administrative leave pending further investigation."I feel like to lose a life, especially at a young age, there's never going to be justice," Jazmine Reed, the 21-year-old's sister, told WISH, adding that her family watched the pursuit and shooting on Facebook as it happened. "Cause he's gone—there's never justice for that. Even if somebody was to get time or whatever for it, it's never going to be justice because he's never coming back." The sister said she drove to the scene after watching the video, not knowing whether her brother was still alive. "I shouldn't have to bury my little brother," she added.The Indianapolis MPD said the incident began after two officers saw a Toyota Corolla being driven "recklessly." They followed the driver in unmarked cars and asked for assistance as they said the vehicle continued "at a high rate of speed" and the operator was "disobeying all traffic signals" and nearly hit another car. In the Facebook video, titled "High-speed case lol," Reed, who is shirtless, appears nervous as he speaks to his 2,000 viewers and points his camera to show the moving police cars behind him."Almost lost him y'all!" he says. "Almost got rid of his ass!"Video Shows Florida Deputy Violently Yanking Middle Schooler's Hair During ArrestAt one point, he appears to pull over and stop his car. Authorities say the driver disregarded "the officers' verbal commands to stop" and ran out of the car, prompting an officer to chase him on foot."I'm on 62nd and Michigan," Reed says in the video, just before exiting the vehicle. "I just parked... I'm gone." He added: "Please come get me! Please come get me! Please come get me!"Reed can then be heard running for approximately 30 seconds, as a voice behind him yells: "Stop! Stop!""Fuck you," Reed replies. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Assistant Chief Chris Bailey said during a Wednesday news conference that the officer first used his taser, but it's unclear if it worked and is not seen on the purported video from the scene."It is believed at this time that shots were fired by both the officer and the suspect," Bailey said.In the video, Reed appears to start screaming before collapsing on the ground. About eight seconds later, 11 or 12 gunshots can be heard in rapid succession. The live stream did not show Reed talking about a gun or firing a weapon. After a brief pause, two more shots can be heard as the camera faces the sky while the opening lyrics of Young Dolph's "16 Zips" appears to be playing off the phone. By the end of the gunfire, more than 4,000 people had tuned in to watch the live stream, according to the Star.Bailey said Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services arrived shortly after and pronounced the driver dead at the scene. The officer was uninjured.Taylor on Thursday stated that a "loaded gun" was recovered at the scene that appeared to have been fired twice and that it belonged to the driver. He added that disciplinary action will be taken against the detective who made the "casket" comment.After the incident, the Facebook Live video, which has been widely shared on social media, was removed from the victim's account, Bailey said. Bailey added that authorities are aware of Facebook videos.Cop Charged With Assault After Video Shows Him Slamming Suspect's Head Into Pavement"Both the officers and the detectives have done their due diligence in preserving that evidence through the proper legal channels, and if it's associated that there's information on there that's appropriate for the investigation, they'll utilize it," he said.Taylor added Thursday the police officers involved in the shooting were not wearing body cameras, but he has no reason to believe they acted inappropriately. But after the press conference, dozens of protesters took to the streets demanding more police action, shouting "all lives matter," as drivers stopped their cars and put their fists out their windows in solidarity.About eight hours after that shooting, Indianapolis police fatally shot another man during an investigation into a burglary at an apartment complex. Authorities said that around 1:30 a.m. Thursday, four officers responded to the apartment and were immediately fired upon by a man with a rifle. All four officers "returned fire" and hit the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene, police said in a news release. In response to both incidents, Taylor stressed at a Thursday press conference that he will provide residents with "the truth whether we are right or wrong.""We have long talked about the kind of police department we want to be—one that serves with the community, that's not policed at—a police department that is trusted, one where every resident feels a comfortable calling," Taylor said. "We recognize and are saddened that this mutual trust that is so valued has been eroded over the last 24 hours."Investigators are now conducting a separate investigation into that shooting, and police said there's evidence the victim called 911 with the intent of ambushing the responding officers. "Our hearts this morning are with the families who lost loved ones during these tragic events. All of us are trying to make a new normal in an un-normal time. Incidents like these do not help restore normalcy to our community," Chrystal Ratcliffe, the president of the NAACP branch in Indianapolis said in a statement.The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana on Thursday called for a "prompt, thorough, and transparent investigation" into Reed's death."Whether someone is unarmed or armed, compliant or resistant, police officers should be properly trained in de-escalation tactics and turn to the use of force only as a last resort, not a first option," the statement read. Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| Scared to Return to Work Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic? These Federal Laws Could Grant You Some Protections Posted: 06 May 2020 02:01 PM PDT  Federal labor laws also offer protections to American workers who feel unsafe. Here's what to know about those rights
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| Researcher 'on verge of very significant' coronavirus findings shot to death Posted: 05 May 2020 06:56 PM PDT  The Pennsylvania researcher "was on the verge of making very significant findings toward understanding the cellular mechanisms that underlie" COVID-19, his university said.
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| U.S. says Russia is working with Syria's Assad to move militia to Libya Posted: 07 May 2020 11:22 AM PDT  The United States does not support the offensive of Libya's eastern-based military leader Khalifa Haftar against Tripoli and believes Russia is working with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to transfer militia fighters and equipment to Libya, senior U.S. officials said on Thursday. Haftar launched a war a year ago to grab the capital Tripoli and other parts of northwestern Libya.
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| China says it backs WHO in tracing COVID-19, denounces U.S. 'lies' Posted: 07 May 2020 01:01 AM PDT  China said on Thursday it supports the World Health Organization (WHO) in trying to pinpoint the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and accused U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of telling one lie after another in his attacks on Beijing. The virus has killed more than 255,000 people worldwide, including more than 70,000 in the United States, the worst-affected country, since it was first identified in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December. Pompeo accused China of withholding virus samples he said were needed for global vaccine research, and he demanded transparency.
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| Life of luxury: Dubai's huge service sector faces unsure future Posted: 06 May 2020 08:05 PM PDT  In Dubai's ritzy Marina district, white yachts are tethered to docks, standing idle -- like many companies behind a luxury lifestyle industry battered by the coronavirus crisis. "Nearly 95 percent, if not 100 percent, of turnover has been lost," the manager of a yacht charter company told AFP. When the United Arab Emirates halted all commercial flights and enforced a strict curfew to stem the spread of the disease, fishing trips and sightseeing excursions dried up "without warning", the young Frenchman said.
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| Lockheed-Raytheon’s deadlier F-Model Javelin anti-tank missile rolls into production Posted: 06 May 2020 10:07 AM PDT  Raytheon and Lockheed Martin's joint venture for the Javelin has completed production of its first F-Model of the shoulder-fired anti-tank weapon.
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